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Black History Month was created to focus attention on the contributions of African Americans to the United States. It honors all Black people from all periods of U.S. history, from the enslaved people first brought over from Africa in the early 17th century to African Americans living in the United States today.
The Houston Public Library (HPL) is proud to present an exciting array of virtual and in-person events, programs and resources that celebrate and honor Black history, culture and heritage. Throughout the month of February, Houstonians of all ages are invited to join the Black History celebration by attending HPL’s first-ever Celebration of Black Voices Festival, historical research seminars, book discussions, author visits, movies and more.
Visit the link below provided by the Houston Public Library for information on the many events, venues and more in our city this month.
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Vice Mayor Pro Tem Castex-Tatum Testifies on Autonomous Vehicles Before Congress!
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Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton listening to the Vice Mayor Pro Tem’s testimony on Autonomous Vehicles
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On February 2nd, Vice Mayor Pro Tem and Councilmember, Martha Castex -Tatum, represented the City of Houston and our own District K on behalf of the National League of Cities before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
In a virtual committe meeting, Castex-Tatum shared our city’s experience with piloting and testing of autonomous vehicles with Metro Transit and their self-driving shuttle at Texas Southern University on their one-mile Tiger Walk. She explained that District K was one of the first three areas, in Houston, where Nuro launched zero-occupant AVs for commercial service delivery using lower speeds and smaller, lightweight vehicles.
Click below to read the Vice Mayor Pro Tem blog on AVs:
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Mayor Turner Announces Public Safety Initiative to Combat Crime
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- Violence Reduction and Crime Prevention
- Crisis Intervention, Response and Recovery
- Youth Outreach Opportunities
- Key Community Partnerships
The plan outlines a commitment to put more officers on the streets through overtime and cadet classes and creates a $1 million gun buyback program. It also provides $1.5 million in additional funding to the Houston Forensic Science Center to address backlogs and funds domestic violence programs with an additional $3 million to provide more services for survivors and prevention efforts.
“This plan represents a holistic approach to combatting violent crime on the streets while being responsive to the needs of victims and building healthier communities in the process,” said Mayor Turner. “Law enforcement efforts alone will not sufficiently address the symptoms of crime. We are faced with a public health crisis, and it will require all of us, working together to overcome it.”
Mayor Turner also announced:
- $2.5 million for the implementation of the CURE Violence program in targeted communities. The Cure Violence model trains and deploys outreach workers and violence interrupters to mitigate conflict on the street before it turns violent. T
- Increased support for the Community Re-Entry Network Program. The program helps formerly incarcerated individuals with successful community reintegration including workforce development, mental and behavioral health resources and housing and other basic needs referrals and resources. Reducing recidivism is critical for increasing long-term public health and safety and lowering corrections costs. The proposed $1 million dollar increase will allow a 50% increase in participants to grow from 500 to 750 annually.
- A proposed ordinance for council approval requiring security cameras on certain classes of businesses where the increase in crime in concentrated.
- A proposed ordinance for city council approval requiring that a bail bond company charge a premium which is equal to at least ten percent of the amount of the bail bond set by the court.
One Safe Houston: the Mayor’s Public Safety Initiative to Combat Violent Crime. Follow this link to view the full plan.
Crime Stoppers of Houston will be hosting a webinar on Teen Dating Violence on February 23rd. Click here to register.
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Vice Mayor Pro Tem Receives Coveted Top Mayor’s Diversity Award!
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The Champions of Diversity Awards honors City of Houston certified and non-certified prime contractors, as well as a City of Houston department and a community partner that have been true champions in exemplifying commitment, excellence and support to OBO’s mission and the City’s Supplier Diversity Program. Vice Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum received the Ernest B McGowan, Sr. Champion of Diversity Award which is the Mayor’s coveted award which pays tribute to a legendary individual whose contributions have ha a phenomenal impact on the creation, education, accessibility and economic growth of the COH’s program.
“We celebrate these award winners who reflect Houston’s diversity and support a competitive and robust business environment,” Mayor Turner said. “These honorees have helped achieve the goal of awarding nearly $900 million dollars in City of Houston contracts to MWBEs (Minority & Women Business Enterprises) since I’ve been Mayor, bringing to reality my vision of Houston as a City of Opportunities.”
CONGRATULATIONS VICE MAYOR PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEX TATUM!!!
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Summer Food Service Program
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The 2022 Summer Food Service Program, sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department, will operate from June 13 through August 12 for youth ages 1 to 18.
HPARD encourages any churches, apartment complexes, learning centers, schools or other nonprofit groups in our district desiring to participate and apply no later than March 11, 2022. Organization’s representative(s) should call 713-676-6832 to obtain information or email Rummeka Allen at rummeka.allen@houstontx.gov The Summer Food Service Program is a federally funded program coordinated by the Texas Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Division. More information is available on the Parks and Recreation Web site at www.houstonparks.org
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Hire Houston Youth Sumer Job Opportunities!
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SUMMER JOB OPPORTUNITES are available! Applicants must be ages 16-24 years old and reside within a City Council District. Individuals must be available to work from June 13- August 4, 2022.
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Community Involvement Helps Keep Our Communities Safe!
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Did you know the HPD PIP program is open to ALL in the community? We invite all District K residents to come out and hear Vice Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex Tatum and the
HPD Southwest Division Commander Hassig as guest speakers for the February 22nd PIP meeting.
The PIP meeting begins at 7pm.
Houston Police Department
13097 Nitida St.
Houston, TX 77045
Cooperation between the Houston Police Department and the citizens is imperative in the reduction of crime and enhancing the overall quality of life in their neighborhoods. The Houston Police Department has had a Community Service Division since the Seventies. When a group of citizens requested a presentation on a crime prevention topic, they would send one of their officers to the group and advise them what they could do to keep from becoming crime victims again. This is proactive policing. In 1982, out of the patrol division came the idea that citizens also need to know more about their police department before a crime occurred in their neighborhood. From this idea came the concept of the Positive Interaction Program, “PIP.”
A police agency can be very confusing to most citizens. The Positive Interaction Program holds monthly PIP meetings featuring speakers from different divisions (Burglary and Theft, Homicide, K-9, Helicopters, etc.) explaining how their division operates. This is done so citizens will know what to expect, should they ever need the police. The department was not sure how citizens would react to coming to a police station once a month for a presentation on a different division however the Program continues to this date and has proven to be an overwhelming success. We hope to see you on February 22nd.
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Council District Service Funds at Work!
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We love streets that are in good condition. Concrete panel replacements help to preserve our roadways. We are looking forward to the concrete panel replacements coming to Fort Bend on W. Ridgecreek Drive from S. Post Oak Road to W. Fuqua Street. Construction is scheduled to commence on February 28, 2022 and is expected to be completed March 28, 2022.
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New sidewalks and ADA accessible ramps coming to Brays Oaks. A work order has been issued to remove and replace the sidewalk at 6422 Dellfern Dr. and 3 ramps along Sandpiper Dr. at 6730, 11832 and 11902. Construction began on February 1, 2022 and is anticipated to be complete by February 28, 2022.
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If you have driven down Fondren Rd near Hwy 90 you will appreciate this upcoming work in our community. A work authorization has been issued to replace damaged concrete pavement panels at 13255 Fondren Rd. This project has been scheduled to commence on February 23, 2022 and is anticipated to end by March 25, 2022. Please drive slow and follow construction detours in the area.
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Early Voting is Happening Now
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Early voting is happening now! March 1st is Election Day.
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CenterPoint Power Alert Services
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Did you know that CenterPoint Energy’s Power Alert Service (PAS) can notify you, family and friends of the outage, restoration progress and when power is fully restored? Watch our short video to see how PAS can benefit you. Thanks to their recent upgrade, you can now easily add up to five text*, five emails and five phone numbers – 15 contact points – to each electric account you manage to receive power outage alerts.
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